the tax would have made the rich contribute a whole lot more to cutting public deficit. >> arthel: here at home as senator leaders work behind closed doors to cut an 11th hour deal to avoid the fiscal cliff, we got a glimpse of optimism on the senate floor on friday from majority leader harry reid and minority leader mitch mcconnell following their white house meeting with president obama. here it is. >> everyone knows we've been to the white house. we've had a constructive meeting. we certainly hope that something will positive will come from that. >> i share the view of the majority leader. we had a good meeting at the white house. we are engaged in discussions, the majority leader and myself and the white house in the hopes that we can come forward as early as sunday and have a recommendation that i can make to my conference and the majority leader can make to his conference. >> arthel: so is a fiscal deal more likely now than it was before congress left for christmas break? let's have a meeting of the minds. outreach director for freedom works, author of "backlash" and fox news cont